Senior Technical Adviser

Job Description - Senior Technical Adviser )Job posting date: 17/Dec/2025Closure date: 07/Jan/2026, 10:59:00 PMOrganizational Unit: ESAJob TypeStaff position (Professional requisition)Primary LocationItaly - RomeDurationFixed-term: two years, with possibility of extensionPost Number: CCOG Code: 1A11IMPORTANT NOTICEPlease note that the closure date and time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device.The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.FAO Commitment to DiversityFAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non- and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values.FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agro-food systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.Organizational SettingFAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and to ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.The Agrifood Economics and Policy Division (ESA) conducts economic research and policy analysis and provides evidence-based support to national, regional and global policy processes and initiatives related to monitoring and analysing food and agricultural policies, agribusiness and value chain development, rural transformation, food security and nutrition, information and analysis, resilience, bioeconomy and climate-smart agriculture. The Division also leads the production of two FAO flagship publications: The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) and the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI). It also leads the technical work on the Roadmap to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2) without breaching the 1.5 °C threshold.The post is located in the Strategic Foresight, Structural Transformation and Bioeconomy Pillar of the Agrifood Economics and Policy Division (ESA) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.Reporting LinesThe Senior Technical Adviser reports to the Director, ESA.Technical FocusThis position leads the division's work on Strategic Foresight across global, regional, and national levels, with a particular emphasis on the long-term structural transformation of agro-food systems and economies, especially in the context of the bioeconomy. The role involves managing and contributing to technical analyses under the Strategic Foresight, Structural Transformation, and Bioeconomy pillar, ensuring that evidence-based insights are effectively integrated into reports and related outputs. A key responsibility is to facilitate collaboration with other FAO units, particularly technical divisions focused on agricultural production and natural resources, to ensure that the organization's biophysical expertise is appropriately embedded within the economic analysis and modeling conducted by ESA. The position also coordinates the editorial and publication work for the Future of Food and Agriculture report series and the FAO Global Roadmap to achieve food security and nutrition in the context of climate actions. It fosters partnerships with UN agencies, research centers, and academic institutions to strengthen the analytical foundation of foresight and bioeconomy-related work. In addition, the role provides policy advice grounded in rigorous evidence to support national and international efforts aimed at the long-term sustainability of agro-food systems and the promotion of an effective science-policy interface.Key ResultsLeadership and technical expertise for the planning, development and implementation of programmes of work, projects and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.Key FunctionsLeads the development, implementation and evaluation of technical issues of assigned programmes/projects; directs the review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.Coordinates programmes and reviews the assessment of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects as well as the preparation of impact evaluations or equivalent studies.Supervises the preparation of various written outputs, such as background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports, studies and inputs to publications.Directs substantive support to consultative meetings and conferences, including the proposition of agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars; and makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties.Provides advice to develop policies and strategies as well as national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO's work.Specific FunctionsProvides strategic oversight for the development and implementation of innovative methodologies and analytical tools to conduct strategic foresight exercises that strengthen sustainable development, enhance food security and nutrition, and build resilience.Leads multidisciplinary horizon-scanning initiatives to monitor scientific advancements relevant to the long-term economic transformation of agro-food systems.Ensures the integration of evidence-based analysis into foresight and bioeconomy-related workstreams, maintaining analytical rigor, policy relevance, and internal consistency.Oversees editorial production of the Future of Food and Agriculture (FOFA) report series, the FAO Global Roadmap for achieving food security and nutrition in the context of climate actions, and other analytical outputs including technical reports, policy briefs and knowledge products focused on foresight, the economic impact of scientific innovation, and structural shifts driven by the bioeconomy.Translates strategic foresight findings into actionable recommendations that inform FAO's strategic framework and programmatic priorities.Provides technical leadership and mentorship to staff, supporting the application of advanced scientific techniques such as systematic evidence reviews, modeling and quantitative science-policy analysis.Fosters collaboration with UN agencies, UN Country Teams, development partners and national governments to promote integrated policy approaches across agriculture, food security, nutrition and sustainable development.Builds and sustains partnerships with academic institutions, research centers and think tanks to strengthen the scientific foundation of foresight and bioeconomy work.Contributes to the development of policy advice and technical assistance grounded in robust evidence, supporting Member Nations in designing and monitoring long-term agro-food strategies.CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWINGAdvanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, agricultural economics, agricultural sciences, physics, chemistry or biology, or a related field.Ten years of relevant experience in using various economic analysis methods across a wide range of topics, including food security and nutrition.Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).Results FocusLeading, Engaging and EmpoweringCommunicationPartnering and AdvocatingKnowledge Sharing and Continuous ImprovementStrategic ThinkingTechnical/Functional SkillsWork experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.Extent and relevance of experience in drafting and coordinating high-level analytical and flagship reports in a multilateral or intergovernmental context.Extent and relevance of experience in performing multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral economic analysis across various thematic areas.Strong understanding of policy processes at global, regional, and national levels, particularly those related to food security and nutrition, sustainable development, resilience and agro-food systems.Excellent capacity to assess the quality of scientific evidence and translate them into actionable recommendations for decision makers.Extent and relevance of experience in policy analysis and the provision of policy advice on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) and resilience, including at the individual, household, community and agro-food systems levels.Knowledge of resilience concepts, metrics and measurement approaches as they relate to agro-food systems, livelihoods and shocks.Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, building consensus and fostering partnerships across sectors and institutions.FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.GENERAL INFORMATIONExtension of fixed-term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds.FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.CONDITIONS OF SERVICEA competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: allowancesRental subsidyEducation grant for childrenHome leave travel30 working days of annual leave per yearPension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension FundInternational health insurance; optional life insuranceDisability protectionFAO encourages a positive workplace cultureElements of family-friendly policiesFlexible working arrangementsStandards of conductHOW TO APPLYTo apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills.Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.Once your profile is completed, please apply and submit your application.Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at . These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications.Incomplete applications will not be considered.Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application.Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered.Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile.We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: